Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Hydrogen
peroxide is the only germicidal agent composed only of water and
oxygen. Like ozone, it kills disease organisms by oxidation! Hydrogen
peroxide is considered the worlds safest all natural effective
sanitizer. It kills microorganisms by oxidizing them, which can be best
described as a controlled burning process. When Hydrogen peroxide reacts with organic material it breaks down into oxygen and water.

Whiten Clothes – An Alternative to Beach
Add a cup of Peroxide to white clothes in your laundry to whiten them.
Peroxide is great to get rid of blood stains on clothes and carpets. If
there is blood on clothing, just pour directly on the spot, let it sit
for about a minute, then rub and rinse with cold water. Repeat if
necessary.

Health

Your body makes Hydrogen peroxide to
fight infection which must be present for our immune system to function
correctly. White blood cells are known as Leukocytes. A sub-class of
Leukocytes called Neutrophils produce hydrogen peroxide as the first
line of defense against toxins, parasites, bacteria, viruses and yeast.

Rejuvenating Detoxifying Bath

Use about 2 quarts 3% Hydrogen peroxide to a tub of warm water. Soak at
least 1/2 hour, adding hot water as needed to maintain a comfortable
water temperature.

Foot Fungus

To cure a foot fungus,
simply spray a 50/50 mixture of Hydrogen peroxide and water on them
(especially the toes) every night and let dry.

Colonic or Enema

For a colonic, add 1 cup (8 ozs.) 3% H202 to 5 gallons warm water. (Do
not exceed this amount) For an enema, add 1 tablespoon of 3% H202 to a
quart of warm distilled water.

Infections

Soak any
infections or cuts in 3% for five to ten minutes several times a day.
Even gangrene that would not heal with any medicine has been healed by
soaking in Hydrogen peroxide. Put half a bottle of hydrogen peroxide in
your bath to help rid boils, fungus or other skin infections.

Bird Mites Infections

Patients infected by tiny mites report that hydrogen peroxide
effectively kills the mites on their skins. They spray it on their skin a
couple of times (with a few minutes in between the applications) with
amazing results.

Sinus Infections

A tablespoon of 3%
Hydrogen peroxide added to 1 cup of non-chlorinated water can be used as
a nasal spray. Depending on the degree of sinus involvement, one will
have to adjust the amount of peroxide used.

Some sources recommend soaking
infections or cuts for five to ten minutes several times a day. However,
washing and rinsing action is sufficient. You shouldn’t leave the
solution on open tissue for extended periods of time as, like many
oxidative antiseptics, Hydrogen peroxide causes mild damage to tissue in
open wounds. Therefore it is important to use with caution.

Personal Care

Healing Properties: Take one capful (the little white cap that comes
with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit
it out. You will not have canker sores and your teeth will be whiter. If
you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away,
put a capful of 3% Hydrogen peroxide into your mouth and hold it for 10
minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.

Mouthwash

Many people don’t realize that hydrogen peroxide makes a very effective
and inexpensive mouthwash. Use 3% H202 – add a dash of liquid
chlorophyll for flavoring if desired.

Toothpaste

Use baking soda and add enough 3% H202 to make a paste.

Toothbrush

Or, just dip your brush in 3% H202 and brush. Soak your toothbrush in Hydrogen peroxide to keep them free of germs.

Tooth Ache

Hydrogen peroxide is not a pain killer; however, as an anti-viral,
antibacterial and anti-fungal agent, it is effective at treating the
pathogen that is causing the infection. The following is from my own
personal experience: My dentist wanted to give me a root canal some time
ago as one tooth was inflamed and, in her opinion, would die. I felt
some discomfort but told her that I would give it chance to heal. I
rinsed with hydrogen peroxide (several times a day) as well ascoconut
oil (once a day). The discomfort went away and I have had no further
problems with the tooth.

Tooth Whitening

Having used
3% Hydrogen peroxide as a mouth wash for sometime ago, I am thrilled to
note that my teeth have been beautifully and effortlessly whitened. I
used to pay so much for professional whitening, those silly strips and
uncomfortable trays. Live and learn.

NOTE: Do not swallow any peroxide. When the peroxide rinse is done, be sure to rinse out your mouth with water.

Hair Lightening

Peroxide is a bleaching agent and is used for lightened hair. Dilute 3%
Hydrogen peroxide with water (50 / 50) and spray the solution on your
wet hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not have the
peroxide burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages, but more natural
highlights if your hair is a light brown, faddish, or dirty blonde. It
also lightens gradually so it’s not a drastic change.

Contact Lenses

Hydrogen peroxide is used as a disinfectant in CIBA Vision’s Clear Care
no rub contact lens cleaning solution, due to its ability to break down
the proteins that build up on the lense from the eye’s immune response,
resulting in increased comfort for those with sensitive eyes.

Clean your counters and table tops with hydrogen peroxide to kill germs
and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you
wipe, or spray it on the counters. Use hydrogen peroxide to clean glass
and mirrors with no smearing.

Keep a spray bottle of 3% (straight) to disinfect the interior of the refrigerator and kids’ school lunch boxes.

In the Dishwasher

Add 2 oz. of 3% Hydrogen peroxide to your regular washing formula.

Mold

Clean with Hydrogen peroxide when your house becomes a biohazard after
its invaded by toxic mold, such as those with water damage.

Humidifiers/Steamers

Use 1 pint 3% Hydrogen peroxide to 1 gallon of water.

Laundry Stain Remover

3% Hydrogen peroxide is the best stain lifter if used fairly soon –
although blood stains as old as 2 days have been successfully lifted
with Hydrogen Peroxide. Although it will bleach or discolor many
fabrics. If a little peroxide is poured onto the stain it will bubble up
in the area of the blood, due to a reaction with catalase. After a few
minutes the excess liquid can be wiped up with a cloth or paper towel
and the stain will be gone.

3% H2O2 must be applied to clothing
before blood stains can be accidentally “set” with heated water. Cold
water and soap are then used to remove the peroxide treated blood.

LaundryWashing

You can also add a cup of hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach to a load
of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on
clothing, pour directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute,
then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Today’s
modern home is loaded with toxic and polluting substances designed to
make domestic life easier. In the US, 1 in 3 people suffer from
allergies, asthma, sinusitis or bronchitis (US National Center for
Health Statistics). Treatment for these conditions should include
reducing synthetic chemicals in the home environment. This cleaner is ridiculously easy to make, and works gently and effectively in every way you'd need it too, except maybe windows. It'll clean them, but the citrus oil will leave streaks.I know this recipe isn't a new one, but in my opinion, if your only going to make one cleaner from scratch to replace something store bought and full of chemicals, this one should be it.

Friday, February 15, 2013

My computer tanked. The holidays were crazy. My son was sick, then my partner was sick, now I'm getting over being sick. It was the computer thing that really threw me though. So many things missing, and did I have anything backed up? Hell, no. Dummy.
But here I am, better than ever. My shit is backed up, my computer is as fast as it was the first day I brought it home, and I have two and a half months of ideas under my cap to type out for this here blog. I'll just leave the ice cracked here tonight, and start fresh tomorrow. Happy Friday!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

There are a lot of amazing graphics hitting my twitter and facebook streams these days. I've been saving all of my favorites because I'm an obsessive picture collector, and I know they'll always be useful for promotions. I thought I'd throw them all together here, so you guys can use them on your sites.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

I'm a huge tinkerer. I love experimenting, with recipes I eat and recipes for health care. Sometimes it is
really confusing and time consuming to figure out and compare different recipes from different authors. It seems everyone has her own favorite
measurement units. Cups, ounces, milliliters, teaspoons, tablespoons and drops… Yipes! For easier orientation here is conversion list for units
frequently used in homemade recipes:

1 oz. = 30 ml

1 oz. = 6 teaspoon

1 oz. = 2 tablespoon

1 oz. = 1/8 cup

1 oz. = 456 drop

100 ml = 3.38 oz.

100 ml = 0.42 cup

100 ml = 7 tablespoon

100 ml = 20 teaspoon

1 ml = 15 drop

1 cup = 8 oz.

1 cup = 237 ml

1 cup = 16 tablespoon

1 cup = 48 teaspoon

1 cup = 3648 drop

1 tablespoon = ½ oz.

1 tablespoon = 14.78 ml

1 tablespoon = 1/16 cup

1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoon

1 tablespoon = 228 drop

1 teaspoon = 1/6 oz.

1 teaspoon = 4.93 ml

1 teaspoon = 1/50 cup

1 teaspoon = 1/3 tablespoon

1 teaspoon = 76 drop

100 drop = 0.22 oz.

100 drop = 6.49 ml

100 drop = 0.027 cup

100 drop = 0.44 tablespoon

100 drop = 1.3 teaspoon

This list has saved me a million headaches, I hope it helps you out as well!
<3

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Root cellars are for keeping food supplies at a low temperature and steady
humidity. They keep food from freezing during the winter and keep food
cool during the summer months to prevent spoilage. Typically, a variety
of vegetables are placed in the root cellar in the autumn, after
harvesting. A secondary use for the root cellar is as a place in which
to store wine or home-made alcoholic beverages.

In the
days before fresh produce was available in supermarkets year-round, a
root cellar was an essential part of every home. They're a lost way of
life and were once a crucial link in the subsistence chain. In one form
or another, we may need to rely upon them once more -- this time after
the pole shift. Conditions might render a root cellar a luxury, but it's
an option we should be knowledgeable about.

Here are some excellent key points from the book "Root Cellaring" by Mike &
Nancy Bubel. This book is a goldmine of information, and if you're considering putting in a root cellar, it'll walk you through every step.

The authors found with proper planning they could produce about 33 kinds of vegetables for winter storage.

Vegetables store best if harvested at the peak of maturity. This takes a little planning.

Many storage vegetables grow best in the cool growing days of fall.

Unblemished, disease-free vegetables keep best.

Well-fertilized kale, collards and cabbage contain more vitamin C than those grown on lean soil.

Whole
grains will remain in good condition for two or three years if kept
cool and dry and protected from insects. Pick a tightly closed container
that shuts out light and that insects and rodents can’t penetrate.
Grains don’t belong in a damp root cellar.

Cured meats, especially ham and bacon, can be kept in a root cellar if the temperature is 40° or below. (About 4° C)

You
can even put potting soil in the root cellar over the winter so it
won’t be rain-soaked when you need some for spring seedlings.

Root
vegetables can be left in the ground until hard frost, and that way the
temperature in your root cellar is more likely to be at an optimal
level.

It
shouldn’t be necessary to clean most vegetables, but handle with care
and store only your best. Curing isn’t necessary for most root
vegetables.

Leafy tops of parsnips and beets are good to eat.

Lowering the storage temperature is the single-most important thing you can do to promote the longevity of root vegetables.

The optimal temperature for most root vegetables is around 32° F (0° C)

The majority of storage vegetables are biennials -- those that go to seed after a winter dormancy period. Nature intends them to last the winter.

Store enough items so that a few losses won’t matter.

Inspect your stored vegetables weekly.

The main cause of shriveling in storage is low humidity.

The
authors also discuss outside storage of vegetables in mounds, also
known as clamps. However, I couldn't find a web site that dealt with
this topic.

If
you’re willing to dig a hole for it, an old refrigerator can provide
good storage space for vegetables. You bury the refrigerator to take
advantage of the moderating and more constant temperature of the
sub-surface soil. Keep the refrigerator well covered and protected from
moisture, and you may need to install a vent.

If
winters are mild (average temperatures over 30° F) you won’t be able to
reach the optimum temperature in a root cellar. In this case, the
vegetables should keep well in a heavily-mulched garden row.

In planning a root cellar, temperature is the first consideration. You want to maintain temperatures at 32° to 40° F (0 to 4 C).

Double-doors
or a small anteroom (fore-room) provide an additional degree of
protection from temperature swings. Insulation also helps maintain a
stable temperature. You can use sawdust, wood shavings, cinders, straw,
even dry leaves. Some outdoor-survival books discuss how to keep
insulation dry.

The
next requirement is high humidity, about 90% to 95%. This will help
prevent the food from shriveling. You can measure humidity with a
hygrometer, though humidity shouldn’t be a problem in a post-shift
world. If the cellar has a dirt floor, it will provide natural moisture.
If necessary, you can place water in shallow pans. You can also pack
root vegetables (especially carrots, beets, and parsnips) in damp
sawdust, sand or moss to reduce surface evaporation. If you can install
one, an arched ceiling will cut down on condensation problems.

You
also need proper ventilation, and this means installing a low
air-intake opening and a high air outlet on opposite sides of the room.
In Europe, the pipes are often insulated to help prevent condensation.
Don’t place your storage shelves right against the walls. Your food can
get moldy. Ditto if you place your storage bins right on the floor. A
palette-type device is recommended.

The storage room should be kept dark.

You want to clean up the cellar annually.

Crates utilize space more effectively than baskets.

A space eight-by-eight feet (about 2.5 square meters) should be plenty for the average family.

Root cellars are too humid for canned goods, unless you consume these in perhaps the first year.

You don’t want a strong draft through the bin, because this will remove moisture from the produce.

If the outdoor temperature is higher than the root cellar, keep the air-intake vent closed during the day.

If it’s extremely cold out and the cellar is reaching below 32° F, you can put some hot coals in there to warm things up.

Store only your best vegetables.

Keep them as cool as possible between harvest and storage.

Dug-in
root cellars work well because they are insulated by the earth
surrounding them. The soil is a poor conductor of heat, so the
temperature of the ground six feet under the surface is cool and fairly
constant. The natural moisture of the earth helps to keep humidity high.
It is important to provide drainage around the cellar so there is no
water-logged soil to freeze and cave in the walls.

You
can cover a dirt floor with gravel, but you don’t want a concrete
floor. You also want a drain to allow excess water to seep out. Cover it
with a screen. Excessively rainy conditions may call for a trench.

In many places, most root cellar crops can be safely left in the ground until November.

Keep carrots and beets away from any condensation that might by dripping from the ceiling.

If mice become a problem, you may have to screen individual containers of vegetables.

One enterprising person made a root cellar out of a discarded truck which he drove into a dug-out hillside.

If
you don’t have a thermometer, you can put a container of water in the
cellar. If it starts to freeze up, you’ll need to warm up the cellar
somehow.

Incidentally, a root cellar can make an excellent shelter from tornadoes and hurricanes.

Old-timers sometimes built the front wall of a root cellar twice as thick as the back wall.

You
need a good roof that doesn’t allow moisture to penetrate the cellar.
If it’s structurally sound, you can place a couple feet of dirt on it
for additional insulation.

The Bubels go on to describe characteristics of different storage items:

Apples: I don’t foresee growing these, but they’re considered the ‘queen’ of storage fruits.

Beets: good
keepers. The ‘Long Keeper’ variety is just that -- a great keeper. The
leaves are vitamin-rich. Can last 4 to 5 months in storage.

Brussels sprouts: might
keep 4 to 5 weeks if kept in perforated plastic bags. This reminds us
we might want to stock up on plastic grocery bags for this purpose.

Cabbage: if it splits, it won’t keep.

Chinese cabbage: can last up to three months. You can even replant them in a box of soil in the root cellar.

Carrots: a
summer planting is best for winter keeping. They are the backbone of
any food-storage plan. The roots are rich in vitamin A and they can last
several months in storage. With adequate mulching, you can even keep
them right in the garden row for the winter.

Cauliflower: keeps only a short time at best, two to four weeks.

Celeriac: a good keeper.

Celery: see how late you can keep this in the garden, and then maybe you can get a month or two of storage out of it.

Garlic: needs lower humidity than root vegetables. If you can find a cool, dry place, it can last seven or eight months.

Horseradish: very hard and a good keeper.

Jerusalem artichoke (sunchoke): can last several weeks in plastic bags or in damp sand.

Kale: high in vitamin content, easy to grow, extremely cold-hardy.

Kohlrabi: the leaves are good to eat. Packed in damp sand or sawdust, it can keep well into the winter.

Leeks: especially
cold-hardy. Can make it through a winter outdoors if well mulched, or
you can plant some in your root cellar in tubs of sand or soil.

Lettuce: has a short storage life.

Onions: seed-grown onions are especially good for storage.

Parsnips: these are perhaps the hardiest of all root vegetables. Be sure to dig
them out. If you pull them, you can lose half the root. If you nick the
roots with the shovel, don’t store them. Nicks and blemishes invite
spoilage, and this applies to all root vegetables. For longer storage,
pack them in damp sawdust. Leaves, moss, or sand will work well too. The
leaves are edible.

Sweet Potatoes: the roots are vitamin-rich, and they can keep several months if stored well. Must be cured.

White Potatoes: beware
of planting the kind you buy in the store -- they may contain disease.
Cool nights promote storage of starch, making for a longer-keeping
potato, so the later-maturing ones are best for storage. Must be cured
and kept in a dark spot. They can last four to six months.

Pumpkins: those that have lost their stems won’t keep well.

Winter radishes: they’ll last until February if well stored.

Rutabagas (Swedish turnip): will last two to four months in storage.

Squash:
if it’s well stored, it will keep for up to six months. Cure them for
10 to 14 days. Like pumpkins, keep them dry and moderately warm.

Tomatoes: late-planted tomatoes are best for storage.

Turnips: these are among the hardiest of vegetables. In storage they might put out pale, leafy tops, good for stews.

This incredibly ambitious buried school bus cellar inspires thoughts of all kinds of buried junk; An old car, van, cargo container, or:

An old non-working refrigerator. A chest freezer would be great as well.

Beets and carrots store best buried in sand.

Cabbages hanging upside-down by their taproots. I love the cans, but stop stacking your home canned goods people! Safety first!

About Me

My name is Angie, and I live in the beautiful mountains of Asheville, NC. I am the owner of Sister Threads and Sister Threads Farm. I'm just trying to make sense of my creativity, my love of nature and animals, and my fierce passion for women's rights.
I keep chickens, bees, a jolly dog named Usha, a scaredy cat named Lydia, and an endless cycle of foster dogs.